One of the easiest and cheapest ways to give fabric a whole new life is to dye it. A couple of years ago I dyed my plain old ivory velvet drapes a wonderful emerald green. The green is so beautiful I could look at it all day long. I have one extra drape and think I should make a dress or something out of it! Anyhow, they came out so good, like I bought them in that color. I have had so many people inquire when they see my room and I tell them about the drapes. It seems that dying fabric eludes people, thinking that there just must be more to it than how simple it really is. I have to admit before I knew how simple it was, I had no idea either!
A couple of weeks ago I saw some really cute purple bamboo sheets at Target. I really wanted them, but for $60 (which in the world of sheets is not really expensive, I know...) but $60 is $60 and I watch where I spend the dollars..so I thought about it. Then it ocurred to me, I have ivory (there is that color again!) flannel sheets, that are perfectly good, but I don't want that boring color, but I could dye them. I don't know why it took me 3 years to think of it.. So off I went to Ace Hardware, which has a huge selection of Rit Dye. I think I had done the powder type before, but now there is a liquid, and for $4.50 for one bottle, was all I needed.Purple, one of my favorite colors.
Now this is the easiest thing to do..really.
A couple of weeks ago I saw some really cute purple bamboo sheets at Target. I really wanted them, but for $60 (which in the world of sheets is not really expensive, I know...) but $60 is $60 and I watch where I spend the dollars..so I thought about it. Then it ocurred to me, I have ivory (there is that color again!) flannel sheets, that are perfectly good, but I don't want that boring color, but I could dye them. I don't know why it took me 3 years to think of it.. So off I went to Ace Hardware, which has a huge selection of Rit Dye. I think I had done the powder type before, but now there is a liquid, and for $4.50 for one bottle, was all I needed.Purple, one of my favorite colors.
Now this is the easiest thing to do..really.
-First you just rinse the sheets (whatever fabric you are working with..and this is all on the label..) to get the sheets wet.
-Then you fill the washer with hot water and dump in the dye.
-Once the water level is full, and the dye is mixed, gently fold in the fabric.
-You will want to wear rubber gloves (and of course you all have your gloves) and careful not to splash, on yourself or anything else.
-Then the washer does the work for you.
-You want to run about 30 minutes of the wash cycle, then let it rinse, and wa lah! the work is done.
The purple is even better than my expectations! It is a deep beautiful color, and totally even. The washer did not even look like it had been full of purple dye, but I did a rinse cycle just to be sure. Tossed the sheets in the dryer, and 45 minutes later I had stunning, warm, soft, deep purple sheets. All for the bargain price of $4.50.
Rit Dye, totally recommend it! It can transform old tired fabric into something you never even thought possible. :)
Rit Dye, totally recommend it! It can transform old tired fabric into something you never even thought possible. :)
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Come back! Finding Saratoga is taking the best of you.
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